THE boys now began a very pleasant repast in their camp. Solomon had, as usual, done justice to the occasion. He had chickens, turkeys, mince4 pies, and other articles too numerous to mention. The boys had enough to talk about; for Bart had to narrate5 again the story of his captivity6, and Bruce had to give an account of their wanderings through the valley of the Gas-pereaux.
The departure of the invading host was viewed by the boys without any demonstrations7 of excitement whatever. They tried to act as though they were perfectly8 indifferent to their movements; and having gained the solid results of a victory, they did not care to heighten its brilliancy by any vain display of triumph. The triumph that was in their hearts was enough. They knew also that the Gas-pereaugians would feel an additional mortification9 when they reached home; for then they would there learn that Bruce and his party had penetrated10 to the very centre of their territory, and had virtually done defiance11 by lingering so long by the bridge.
By that memorable12 exploit the camp in the woods had now become hallowed. Henceforth it was to bear in their eyes the charm of historic associations. They felt that their labor14 in building it had not been in vain. In truth it was a pleasant spot; and apart from any other associations, its own quiet beauty was sufficient to give it strong attractions. Its walls arose above them, surmounted15 by its roof, all interwoven with the fragrant16, balsamic branches of fir trees. They had chosen fir in preference to others for the reason that the spines17 of the fir branches will cling for months before drooping18; whereas the hemlock19, the spruce, the pine, and most other trees of that kind, are of such a nature that their spines will not cling to the severed20 branch for much more than a week. And here were the dark green walls, cool, and shadowy, and fragrant. Over the floor was a thick, deep carpeting of soft moss21, suitable for a seat, or for a couch. Outside, all the scene was shut in by the lofty trees which bordered the little dell. Just behind them the brook22 bubbled and babbled23 over rocks and pebbles24, till it fell into ‘the pool. The pool itself, their handiwork, was not the least of the attractions. Its waters were deep enough to bathe in, and made a pleasant contrast to those surrounding trees which it reflected in its mirrorlike surface. Farther down, the brook passed on, bordered on one side with trees, and on the other by that grassy25 knoll26 where late the beleaguering27 Gaspereaugians had stood. On it went, past the trees, past the knoll, through underbrush and mosses28, until at length it was lost to view in the forest. But amid all these beauties, the one object which was dearest to the “B. O. W. C.” was that which they had fixed29 over the door as at once a memorial of the past and a stimulus30 to adventurous31 deeds in the future. It was the jaw32 of the big fish. They had for a while been undecided as to its destination, and were on the point of giving it to the Museum, but at last decided33 on placing it there. There it accordingly was, grinning pleasantly with its triangular34 teeth, and inviting35 every one to enter.
Thus they were seated at their lunch, with Solomon a little apart, looking at them like a father, engaged in pleasing conversation upon all the topics which their recent varied36 adventures might suggest, recounting the past, enjoying the present, and speculating on the future, when suddenly there came an interruption, which in a moment put a full stop to everything.
It was a distant sound.
Now a distant sound must have been very peculiar37 to have caused such excitement as this.
Very well—this was very peculiar.
It was a harsh, dissonant38 roar, a noise, in fact, that could not be called a roar exactly, but something half way between a roar and a howl, repeating itself over and over, and pealing39 from afar upon their startled ears in tremendous echoes. There was no mistaking that sound. It was the same as the one that had so startled them on the memorable night of the money-digging, and had sent them flying in confusion from the spot.
The boys all looked at one another with glances of deep meaning. Not one of them was frightened now. Solomon was only curious; in him the broad day destroyed any superstitious40 feeling. Had it been dark, he would have been as terrified as he was before.
The noise was repeated over and over as they listened, and at last it ceased. It sounded like the conglomeration41 of the bellow42 of a bull, the roar of a lion, the yell of a madman, and the shriek43 of a steam-whistle, intermixed with other harsh and discordant44 noises that can scarcely be defined; and the whole result was one which can certainly not be likened to anything at all.
“That settles it!” said Bart at last.
“What?” asked Tom.
“Well, I’ve been giving the Gaspereaugians the credit of that row at the money-hole, and when they came to-day I was certain of it; but this shows that they could have had nothing to do with it. It’s over there, between us and the Academy, and sounds now in the direction of the money-hole.”
“Now’s the time to find it out,” said Bruce. “I was going to propose a watch to-night, to see if we could get at the bottom of it. This is lucky, for we can examine it by daylight.”
“It’s the very same noise,” said Arthur.
“O, there’s no doubt about it,” said Phil, “only it’s farther off. That night the roar seemed to burst forth13 just behind me. It’s the same in kind, only less in degree, as Mr. Simmons says.”
“Come along then, boys,” said Bart, “Don’t let’s lose any time. It must be somewhere about the old French orchard. Hurry up!” and with these words they all started off.
“De gracious!” cried Solomon. “Where you gwine to? You won’t find nuffin. Dem sorts ob tings don’t ’low derselves to be caught, mind, I tell you! Come back, chil’en, an finish yer dinna, an don’t go actin. An me’s been a cookin for you like all possessed45. What’s to become ob an ole darky ef you won’t eat? Dis heah ain’t de proppa conduc fur de Bee See Double. I’ll frow up my office. I won’t be a Granpander any longer.”
But the boys hurried away, and Solomon’s voice sounded upon the empty air. Thereupon he began collecting the dishes and eatables, and replacing them in his basket.
Leaving Solomon thus, the boys hurried on in a state of great excitement. The mystery had thus far weighed heavily on all their spirits. In Bruce it may have been superstitious feeling which made it oppressive to him; but in the others it was the mortification of their retreat and panic, and the unpleasantness of not being able to account for the cause. The sounds, as far as they could judge, seemed to come from the old French orchard; but Bruce insisted that it issued from the woods. This formed the subject of loud debate among them as they went on. The majority, however, were against Bruce, and thought that it was farther away than the limit of the woods.
“Can it be any of the boys, after all?” said Bart, as they went along the path. “Can Pat have in his possession any very remarkable46 kind of fish-horn or fog-horn?”
“Pat? Nonsense!” said Arthur. “Do you think that any power of Pat’s could produce such a noise?”
“O, I don’t know. He may have a private pocket steam engine, and occasionally let off steam to amuse himself.”
“You’ll have to hunt farther than Pat,” said Bruce, seriously.
“Why, man alive!” cried Bart; “you don’t think now that there’s anything in it—do you?”
Bruce said nothing.
They all hurried along the path, peering into the woods as they went on, and listening for a renewal47 of the sound.
But there was none.
At length they reached the gully, and, crossing it, they ascended48 the steep slope on the other side. This brought them to the old French orchard, and to the very cellar which had been the scene of their memorable midnight operations. Looking down into the cellar, they could see the traces of their work very plainly. They had filled in the hole as well as they could, but the ground bore visible marks of having been turned up.
“If any of the fellows have been up here,” said Bart, “they must have noticed this.”
“I don’t think that follows,” said Phil. “They wouldn’t notice it, in my opinion.”
“O, don’t you believe that. The marks of digging there are enough to make any fellow notice them.”
“Well, what if they do?” said Bruce. “They’ll never think that we had anything to do with it. So we needn’t bother our heads about that.”
“The fact is,” said Arthur, “none of them have been up here since they got back. Bogud and Billymack have been studying; Pat has been occupied on the hill; and the others have taken to the dikes. We’re the only fellows that have been here at all.”
“For my part,” said Bart, “I should like to try that hole again. I don’t believe there’s anything there, but at the same time I don’t like to leave a thing unfinished, especially where it’s been broken off the way this was. And what’s more, I’m bound to have another turn at it.”
“And so am I,” said Phil.
“And I,” said Arthur.
“I’ll be there,” said Tom.
“Well, boys, I’ll be there, too,” said Bruce, “and we’ll omit Solomon this time, and Captain Corbet. We may as well do it by daylight.”
“Of course,” said Bart, “it’s all humbug49 to dig at night. It’s ten times as much trouble, and then we lose our sleep. We can come up early some morning and do it. At the same time, I’m glad we had that night. It’s something to look back upon.”
“That’s all very well,” said Phil; “but I’d like to know why we can’t hear that noise again. If it came from this hole, or from the old French orchard, now’s the time for it. Here we are all ready. So roar away, somebody!”
They all sat down now on the grass, and listened for a while in silence. They could look over the gully on one side, and part of the play-ground on the other. On three sides the woods encircled them. Running along the play-ground on one side, where the woods ended was a pasture field belonging to Dr. Porter. This pasture field could not be seen from the place where they were.
They sat here for some time, waiting for the sound to arise again; and as they sat here, Solomon emerged from the woods, climbed the slope, and advanced towards them. He had replaced all the dishes and all the provisions in the basket, and was now carrying it back. “Dar,” he said, as he put it down. “It beats me. Don’t see de use, no how, fur an ole darky to go an broil50 his ole brack head off cookin and roastin all sorts ob tings if dey won’t be eaten. An tings, too, what got captured by de Gasperojums! An what we skewered51 safe back out ob dere plunderin bans! Besides,—blubbed bruddren, if you don’t eat my tings I feel kind o’ slighted—I feel it a pusnul insult. Dat’s so.”
“O, well, Solomon, you know why we cleared out. So you’ve brought the basket. Well, why can’t we go to work here? Come, boys, let’s rise superior to circumstances, and finish our lunch.” Bart’s proposal was greeted with a shout of joy, and once more Solomon, grinning with pride and delight, spread out before them his dishes and eatables.
They had just begun; they had just lifted to their still hungry and unsatisfied mouths a morsel52 or two, selected from among the dainties spread out by Solomon; they had just become familiar once more with the delicious flavor of some of his pet dishes,—when suddenly, without warning, and altogether unexpectedly, there burst forth again that roar for which they had been waiting so long. Harsh, dissonant, ferocious53, resonant54 in its bellowing55 intonations56, it burst upon their ears, now much nearer than when they had heard it at the camp, and seeming very nearly as loud as it had been on that eventful night. The sound also seemed to come from Dr. Porter’s pasture field. One moment they listened—that moment assured them of the true direction. The next moment they flung down their plates, and knives, and forks; and away they went, like madmen, over the field towards the pasture.
Solomon slowly rose to his feet and looked after them, with his head bent57 a little forward, and his hands clasped before him.
“Well, well, well!” he ejaculated, while an expression of unutterable disgust came over his dark face. “Well, well, well! ob all de contrairy chil’en dat I ebber did see! Nebber in de gracious sakes does dey know when dere well off. Heah’s de second time dey pitch dere dinnas away. An what dat dinna cost me—ob trouble and hard work! But, O, dear, down it goes—O, yes—jes so—flung it all away—an leab dis ole nigga to pick all it up agen. Pity de Gasperojums didn’t keep de basket. Dey’d ’preciate de dinna, any how—dat’s so. ’Tain’t de trouble,” he grumbled58 on, as he picked up the things again, and put them in the basket,—“’tain’t dat—no, sir. It’s de want ob ’preciation. Collud folks likes to be ’preciated. So does white folks. Dar’s de doctor. Me an him likes to be ’preciated,—but dis sort ob ting’s not ’greeble. De day’ll come when dey’ll like to hab one ob ole Solomon’s dinnas.”
So he went on, picking up the things, growling59 and grumbling60 to himself all the time, until at length he had filled the basket again, and went off in the direction where the boys had gone, to see what had become of them, and with a vague idea that the “dinna” would be resumed somewhere farther on.
He found the boys over in the pasture field, looking a little mystified.
The noises had ceased. A few cows were quietly grazing; and among them was an animal which was very familiar by name, but which none of them had ever before seen in the flesh. It was a simple, domestic animal, in some countries the most common of all; but to these boys it was a novelty. How it had got here was also a wonder; for they had no idea that it was here, and in their surprise they forget about the noises.
And what kind of an animal might this have been?
A quiet, a domestic, agreeable animal; in fact, only a little donkey.
“Solomon,” said Bart, as he came up, “who owns the donkey?”
“De doctor,” said Solomon.
“Why, how in the world did he happen to get one?”
“He bought him.”
“Yes, but what did he want of it?”
“O, for de chil’en to play with.”
“That’s queer. I didn’t know there was one.”
“O, you see de doctor got him de time you was off on de scursium. Ole scissa grinda come long, an de doctor bought de donkey. Ole scissa grinda beat de donkey so, dat de doctor got him, an means to keep him for de chil’en. Dat’s all.”
“Poor old Neddy,” said Bart. “He’s pretty lean. But he’s all right now. This will be a Paradise for him. But I say, boys—I wonder how he rides. I’ve never been on a donkey’s back in my life. Have you?”
“And I never saw one before,” said Bruce. “I can’t say I admire him much.”
“Well, neither did I, for that matter,” said Bart; “and for that very reason I want to have a ride on him.”
Saying this, Bart went up to the donkey. The patient animal did not move, but calmly went on eating a delicious thistle that was under his nose. Bart got on his back. The donkey ate on, apparently61 unconscious of the weight. Bart caught hold of his long ears, and tried to pull up his head.
But the donkey ate on!
Then Bart slapped his flanks with his hands.
But the donkey ate on!
Then Bart kicked him vigorously with his heels.
But the donkey ate on!
Then he whistled, and shouted, and pulled his ears, and kicked at him, and mixed all sorts of encouraging words with acts of the most violent kind.
But the donkey ate on!
That donkey seemed to be about the most phlegmatic62 animal that they had ever met with. Bart was in despair. He looked over the field to see if there was a stick lying about anywhere. He asked the boys if they could see one. He now sat still, for a short time, on the donkey’s back, waiting till he should find a stick.
While he was seated thus the donkey slowly lifted his head.
He had finished that thistle, and felt refreshed.
Slowly he elevated his head; slowly he threw back his ears; slowly also he elevated his tail; until at last his nose was directed towards a point about twelve degrees above the northern horizon, and his tail to another point about eleven degrees above the southern.
Then he spread all his legs apart.
Then he opened his mouth.
Then:—
Hee haw! Hee Haw!! Hee Haw!!!
Haw haw 1 Hawwwww! Heee!
Hee haw! Heee! Haaaaw!
Hee-haw! Hee-haw! Haw!
Hee! Haw! Hee! Haw!
Hee! Haw! Hee! Haw!
H-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E I H-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-w!
Bart sprang from his back.
The other boys started and looked at one another in utter amazement63.
One mystery was at last revealed!
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收听单词发音
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1
orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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4
mince
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| n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说 | |
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5
narrate
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| v.讲，叙述 | |
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captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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7
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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8
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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9
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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10
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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11
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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15
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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16
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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17
spines
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| n.脊柱( spine的名词复数 )；脊椎；（动植物的）刺；书脊 | |
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18
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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19
hemlock
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| n.毒胡萝卜，铁杉 | |
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severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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23
babbled
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| v.喋喋不休( babble的过去式和过去分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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24
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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25
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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knoll
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| n.小山，小丘 | |
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beleaguering
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| v.围攻( beleaguer的现在分词 )；困扰；骚扰 | |
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28
mosses
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| n. 藓类, 苔藓植物 名词moss的复数形式 | |
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29
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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30
stimulus
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| n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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38
dissonant
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| adj.不和谐的；不悦耳的 | |
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39
pealing
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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40
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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41
conglomeration
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| n.团块，聚集，混合物 | |
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42
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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43
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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44
discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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45
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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46
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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47
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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48
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
humbug
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| n.花招，谎话，欺骗 | |
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50
broil
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| v.烤，烧，争吵，怒骂；n.烤，烧，争吵，怒骂 | |
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51
skewered
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| v.（用串肉扦或类似物）串起，刺穿( skewer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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53
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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54
resonant
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| adj.(声音)洪亮的，共鸣的 | |
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55
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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56
intonations
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| n.语调，说话的抑扬顿挫( intonation的名词复数 )；（演奏或唱歌中的）音准 | |
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57
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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58
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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59
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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60
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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61
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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62
phlegmatic
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| adj.冷静的，冷淡的，冷漠的，无活力的 | |
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63
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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